Avery Johnson has turned down the chance to make a swift return to an NBA bench with the Memphis Grizzlies.

NBA coaching sources told ESPN.com on Friday that the former Dallas Mavericks coach was offered a five-year contract by the Grizzlies to replace Marc Iavaroni, who was fired late Thursday after 1½ seasons in Memphis.

Johnson, though, elected to pass on an in-season comeback, preferring to remain in his new role as a studio analyst for ESPN.

"I've said all along [that] at the right time and in the right situation, I will coach again," Johnson said Friday. "I am enjoying my time at ESPN and with my family. I think an awful lot of [Grizzlies owner] Michael Heisley and [general manager] Chris Wallace. I wish the Grizzlies the very best."

The Grizzlies on Friday formally announced Iavaroni's dismissal with the team mired at 11-30 after a 2-15 skid. Assistant coach Johnny Davis has been named interim coach going into Memphis' game Friday at New York.

Sources said that Johnson was the Grizzlies' first choice to take over, with Heisley seeking an experienced coach to lead and mold a young team that has started three rookies -- O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Darrell Arthur -- in 25 of its 41 games this season.

Johnson, 43, certainly would have fit Heisley's profile, having posted a 194-70 record in four seasons with the Mavericks, during which he took them to the NBA Finals for the first time in the club's history in 2006 and earned NBA Coach of the Year honors the same season.

He was fired in May 2008 after a second straight first-round exit.

The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported on its Web site early Friday that former Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, now an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks, will be hired as Iavaroni's replacement and be joined on the Grizzlies' bench by recently fired Philadelphia 76ers coach Maurice Cheeks.

Hollins, 55, posted an 18-42 record as the Grizzlies' interim coach in Vancouver during the 1999-2000 season after replacing Brian Hill following a 4-18 start. Hollins also went 0-4 as the interim coach in Memphis between Hubie Brown and Mike Fratello during the 2004-05 season.

Dirkadirkastan

01-23-2009, 03:15 PM

We would have never lost to Memphis by 20 again. Which was 1 of those 2 wins during their "skid".

Report: Avery Johnson turned down offer from Memphis Grizzlies
12:05 PM Fri, Jan 23, 2009
Tim MacMahon
ESPN.com's Marc Stein reports that Avery Johnson could have returned to an NBA bench this week, but he turned down a five-year contract offer from the Memphis Grizzlies.

"I've said all along [that] at the right time and in the right situation, I will coach again," Johnson said Friday. "I am enjoying my time at ESPN and with my family. I think an awful lot of [Grizzlies owner] Michael Heisley and [general manager] Chris Wallace. I wish the Grizzlies the very best."

Translation: Why would I give up this easy life and stop cashing Mark Cuban's checks to inherit that mess in Memphis?

DirkFTW

01-23-2009, 04:46 PM

Sources said that Johnson was the Grizzlies' first choice to take over, with Heisley seeking an experienced coach to lead and mold a young team that has started three rookies -- O.J. Mayo, Marc Gasol and Darrell Arthur -- in 25 of its 41 games this season.

Wow. Sources also said the rookies dodged a major bullet.

Janett_Reno

01-23-2009, 05:02 PM

I told myself other day that Avery would be in the running because Memphis plays zero defense. They simply suck. They have some talent but on the defensive end, they just let you score where they can get the ball back. They need a defensive minded coach. I figure Avery won't jump untill he gets offered a team with potential.

BGMaverick9

01-23-2009, 06:37 PM

Memphis doesn't seem as bad as it seems, to me at least. I think they've got some really talented players, they just need to get their legs under them for a few seasons. I mean look at Atlanta, they had junk for a while and they got young players and they're finally getting it in gear. Memphis can see there is a blueprint out there, they just need to keep working it.

Avery is just going to wait for a can't-miss type of job and then snatch it up.

mac222b

01-23-2009, 07:24 PM

Avery's getting 4 million this year and each of the next two UNLESS he takes another job.
Maybe he's not as dumb as we think he is.

Tokey41

01-23-2009, 08:03 PM

What the hell would he do with all that young talent? Put them ALL on a leash and watch their young hopeful careers suffer massive setbacks/declines?

horse900703

01-23-2009, 09:45 PM

another one~

dalmations202

01-23-2009, 09:58 PM

Avery would have coached that team if Pau was still on it. Without an inside player though, and defensive minded players, Avery would be in over his head again quickly.